I had a great Christmas; it was wonderful as always being with family, being reminded of what is important in life. I had a chance to visit with friends, which was great, and was happy to finally get off my duff and make a trip down to see Paul and his wife and daughter. It was great seeing my ol’ pals and revisiting them as dads. This is something priceless as I realized how special their children are to me. This is a product of having spent so many times together, it as if we were returning to see family.
I am in the middle of a transformation (not physical) but in thought. I have been preaching about a book lately titled the four hour work week, probably everyone I know has heard me mention it on an hour by hour basis, my dad and I debated and philosophized as I tried to figure out what kind of life is a life of meaning, of joy, of adventure, of love. One lived of compassion and passion. I seem to be acutely aware of my death on a daily basis, this may sound odd, and I think I have even mentioned in my blog’s before. But every day when I wake up I seem to be reminded just how short, and precious each moment is. This serves up a morning platter of both content and discontent, content that I am honored to have this second, discontent that I may not be spending it in a way that honors the gift I have been given. In the four hour work week, we are challenged to live a life beyond the status quo. I agree that we as Americans have become creatures possessed by consumerism, distracted by noise, lost in blackberry delights and keeping up with the Jones’. Of course often Christmas brings this out the worst, as we have further corrupted the Christmas season by many a department store line in anticipation for a Nintendo gaming system. I have at times fell victim to this, haven’t we all. We are human after all.
Anyway, I could go on forever, my mind has been tired the past few weeks trying to process it all. But as I write and I see this photo next to me of this child, I melt inside. Stressed by the thought of parenting, but enriched by the experience to love.
I hope that as the next couple months go by I can find a bit more of myself. The quest not for a four hour work week, but the quest to eliminate the “stuff” that has cluttered my day.
One last thought, I stood 2 weeks ago on top of a hilltop in Moore Creek Preserve. It was in a moment of complete silence, the wind in a tree, the sun over the ocean and the realization that all is just a finger length away that got me dreaming. The realization that fear is truly stupid, that God has given us the tools to have everything that we NEED, and that this is nothing more than the freedom to believe it!!
I read this second and found it inspiring. I believe it’s only those who care that have the privilege these kinds of thoughts. Maybe others do to, but they don’t care enough to share them or they deaden the feelings by spending and watching sports on TV.
Keep in mind, “There is never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments.” Most people don’t know this and are merely “place holders” in life. As John Donne said, “They lead lives of quiet desperation.”